Blood Angels

How Blood Angels play

Blood Angels are the assault-focused Space Marine chapter, and the difference from the generic codex is real rather than cosmetic. The army wants to close distance and fight, with jump infantry and dedicated melee units that hit substantially harder than their vanilla equivalents. Where a generic Marine list trades efficiently, Blood Angels aim to win the trade outright and keep moving.

The chapter's rules reward committing. Charging, fighting and surviving the counterattack is the loop, and hanging back to shoot wastes most of what makes the army distinct. That commitment is also the risk — an aggressive move that does not kill its target leaves an expensive unit exposed in the open.

Death Company are the flavour piece and the trap: extremely dangerous, extremely fragile, and easy to throw away for nothing if they charge without support.

Building a Blood Angels army list

Build in charge threat, not just melee damage. A melee unit that cannot reliably reach the enemy on turn two is a shooting target. Jump packs, transports and reserves all serve the same purpose here — arriving.

Jump Pack models take two slots in most transports, so a squad you expect to fit often does not. Check capacity before assuming a transport plan works.

Blood Angels FAQ

How are Blood Angels different from regular Space Marines?

They trade shooting for melee. Their assault units, jump infantry and character options are meaningfully stronger in combat, and their detachment rules reward charging rather than holding position.

Are Blood Angels good for beginners?

They are a reasonable second army rather than a first. Marine durability makes them forgiving, but the aggressive playstyle punishes bad charge decisions more than generic Marines do.

What is the Black Rage?

The chapter's genetic flaw, which in game terms manifests through Death Company — units that hit far above their points cost in melee and are correspondingly difficult to keep alive.